Police arrest man for murder of Kayne David Cluse - the stabbing victim dumped at Lyell McEwin Hospital
- The Advertiser
- January 10, 2014
Kayne David Cluse, 18, died from multiple stab wounds soon after he was driven to the Lyell McEwin Hospital at 10pm on Wednesday night.
He is the son of a senior Hells Angel based in Darwin, and the brother of Arron Cluse - a Hells Angels prospect on trial for allegedly shooting the son of rival bikie Mark Sandery.
Sandery is a former Fink who is now the sergeant-at-arms of the Mongols gang.
However, SA Police on Friday said they did not believe there were any links between Mr Cluse's death and ongoing unrest between South Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs.
"Despite the victim's relationship to known OMCG members, Major Crime detectives remain of the view that the motivation for this crime was drug related," they said in a statement.
A Facebook memorial page RIP Kayne Cluse has been set up by the young man's friends.
Stabbing victim Kayne David Cluse. Picture: Facebook
Police charged a Parafield Gardens man, 51, on Friday morning with Mr Cluse's alleged murder.
The man handed himself in to detectives at the Elizabeth police station on Thursday night.
He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, where his name and identity was suppressed.
A ranking national member of the Mongols has told Advertiser.com.au the man has "absolutely no connection whatsoever" with the club.
The Mongols member said Sandery had already been spoken to by police and told he was not a suspect.
Mr Cluse, of Gilles Plains, died from his wounds shortly after being dropped at the hospital on Haydown Rd, Elizabeth Vale.
Police have not yet located another man who drove him to hospital and then fled.
Mr Cluse was taken to the hospital in a black Commodore sedan driven by a man with two female passengers about 9.50pm on Wednesday.
The driver fled from the Commodore on to Treves St, leaving the women to drive the car to the emergency department entrance.
The two women were apprehended by police but have been uncooperative. One of the woman is well-known to police.
Police seized the Commodore, which was forensically examined.
Medical staff tried to treat Mr Cluse for his stab wounds but he died a short time later.
A metal pole on the footpath on Pearson St, Parafield Gardens. Picture: Doug Robertson
Mr Cluse's sister Sharna posted on her Facebook page that she could not stop crying or "staring into nowhere". "Kayne was sposed to live we were all gonna have family things together with our kids :,( :,(," she wrote.
A close friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said Mr Cluse - who would have turned 19 on Saturday (January 11) - was widely loved.
"He was a wonderful person and he leaves behind a mother, a brother and a sister as well as countless friends," she said.
"He was our dear friend and we loved him. He was also at the same time very kind, very considerate. He wasn't a bad person … he wasn't just a life of crime."
The woman did say that at times Mr Cluse was "no saint".
"I'm not trying to paint the picture that this boy was a saint," she said.
Stabbing victim Kayne David Cluse. Picture: Facebook
"He was our dear friend and we loved him, but he could be a s---head."
The woman said that Mr Cluse was not a member or nominee of a bikie gang, despite his brother and father's involvement.
"He was liked by not just one bikie club but all of them, which is a very rare thing to come across," she said.
On the Facebook tribute page, numerous friends of Mr Cluse left heartfelt tributes to their mate.
"You were a great bloke and there is so many memories just running through my head, your passing has rocked this whole community, our memories of you will be cherished forever and you'll never be forgotten brother," wrote Anthony Wright.
"I still can't believe you're gone! Life is too cruel. You were the funniest bloke, always coming up with beauties. Always had respect for my mum always so polite," wrote Georgia Souliadis.
Police seized this Commodore, which they say was used to dump the man at hospital.
"It's not everyday that a good man passes, but this tragic day one of the best men to be around left us all, me and many other will have lots of memories to cherish mate," wrote Daniel Snewin.
A large crime scene at Parafield Gardens, where the stabbing is suspected to have occurred, was cordoned off.
Forensic officers returned to the house this morning to continue their examination.
Major Crime Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said the victim suffered "very significant stab wounds to his body".
A number of residents reported hearing screaming or shouting between 8pm and 10pm on Wednesday night.
A special task force, Operation Triumph, was established to investigate the murder.
SES volunteers helped police search near the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Picture: Nicholas Wrankmore
Police wish to speak with anyone who saw the black Commodore sedan before its arrival at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
They also want to speak with a man wearing a high-visibility vest who was seen on security cameras to be in the Lyell McEwin Hospital car park at the time the Commodore arrived there. He is not related to the crime.